Amalgamator



(NQ Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. 0. DANE 80' W. L.v CARD. AMALGAMATOR.

No; 284,392. Patented Sept. 4, 1883.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModeL) J. O. DANE 8: W. L. CARD. AMALGAMATOR.

, N 284,392. Paten tedrSept. 4,- 1883.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH O. DANE AND WILLIAM L.

CARD, on LA oRossE, WISCONSIN.

AMVALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,392, dated September 4,1889.

Application filedJuly 31,1882. (NomoileL) 1'0 all whom it may concern:

i at the receiving end or ends.

Be it known that we, J osern O. DANE and WILLIAM L. CARD, both of La Grosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Amalgamators, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a longitudilmljn line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front end view. Fig.4. is a verticalsection taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5is an enlarged detail View illustrating the bearing and supporting rollers. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views of the gatherer and polisher, Fig. 6 showinga top view, and Fig. 7 being asection online 7 7, Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a simplified form of our invention. Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which the sand, &c., travels through the tapering cylinders, as hereinafter more I fully described. y

Our invention relates to, an apparatus for or amalgamating without dry amalgamation, theuse of water; and our invention consists, broadly, in one or more tapering cylinders which are secured to a revolvingframe, and whose inner surfaces are amalgamated, the lower part of the inside of the discharge end of each cylinder being higher than the lower part of. the inside of the receiving end, while the axis, or a line drawn through they center of the cone or cones, islowerat the discharge than A brush and gatherer is arranged within the cone or cones, as more fully described hereinafter. In the drawings, 1 isasuitable feeding devlce.

A represents one or more cylinders, (we have shown five,) each formed in the shape of a frustum of a cone, the small end of one entering the large end of the next. They are removably connected together by longitudinal strips B, held in place by rings 0, made from angleiron, to which they are secured bybolts, or by other suitable means." The cylinders are held from endwise movement by rings D, secured to the ends of the strips 13, as shown. The strips B are supported by grooved wheels E, journaled to rectangular frames F, one near each I end. The grooved wheels receive the vertical flange of theangleiron rings, and thus the cylinders canbe revolved and as a means of revolving them we have shown a grooved pulley, G, between which and any suitable motive power connection may be made, secured to the strips B. The cylinders are preferably made of copper, or of other material lined with copper, so that the quicksilver will adhere perfectly to their inner surfaces. When in working position, the receiving end of the apparatus is raised by suitable means, as shown in Fig. 1, which gives an incline toward the,

delivery end to the axis or centers of the cylinders, while the lowest part of the receiving end of each is lower than the lowest part of its discharge end, as before stated, the function.

being fully set forth in the below description of the operation of the machine.

Secured to the framesF is a strip or rail, H,

which supports, by means of connecting arms or braces I, a combined gatherer and brush or polisher, which traverses the insides of the cylinders. It is constructed as follows: K is a back strip, to which the ends 'of the support ing-arms I are secured, and L are lower strips or blocks, one for each cylinder, to whose surfacethey quite or nearly conform. They are connected together by bolts M, or by other suitable means, and on them are secured copper plates N, one for each cylinder, formed,

as shown inFigs. 6 and 7, to fit the interior of the cylinders or shells, and between the strips and beneath the plates N are clamped layers 0, of cotton ducking or other suitable material.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Having a proper screen'and hopper or feeding device at the receiving end of the machine, the sand and gravel containing gold will enter the largest end of the first cone or cylinder, and as the machine revolves will be carried upward on the ascending side as far as or somewhat above a. concentric line at right angles to the axis of the cylinders, and then, rolling over, will descend perpendicularly, (see Fig. 10,) thus moving a little'nearer the exit end of the apparatus at each-ascent and descent, until finally discharged. In the meantime, however, every particle of the material will, by the peculiar rolling motion imparted, be brought many times in contact with the interior surfaces of the cylinders, which, being amalgamated, will gather and separate the gold from the gravel, &c., and then as these surfaces pass down upon the opposite side the particles of gold which have adhered thereto will be taken off at each revolution by the gatherer and accumulate upon the upper sides of its amalgamated copper plates N. Mercury for amalgamating the cylinders and gatherer may be introduced in any suitable way.

It is important that an amalgamated surface for gathering gold particles should be kept clean and bright, and in our apparatus this is done by the ducking or other suitable material, O.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a simplified form of our invention, wherein no gatherer and polish er are employed. .A single tapering cylinder, A, made of wood, is supported on rollers A, which are secured to a suitable frame, one of which has a crank, A by which the cylinder is revolved. The ends of the cylinder have openings A A, respectively, and its axis is lower at the delivery than at the receiving end, while its interior lower portion is the lowest at its receiving end, as in the main invention. Alare triangular blocks secured to the large end of the cylinder, as shown. The sand containing the gold and mercury is put into the cylinder, and as it is revolved they are carried up its ascending side and fall perpendicularly, as already described, the sand gradually getting nearer the discharge end of the cylinder, while the mercury, carrying the gold with it, will flow back down to the receiving end.

It is important that the discharge ends of the cylinders have inturned flanges a, which prevent the mercury escaping, but do not interfere with the sand, (Ste, being discharged.

(See Fig. 10.)

We claim as our invention- 1. -A tapering amalgamating-cylinder open I at each end, and mounted with its axis inclined downwardly toward the discharge end and its bottom inclined downwardly toward its receiving end, asset forth. I

2. In combination with a suitable feeding device, a tapering amalgamating-cylinder in which the axis and the bottom'incline in opposite directions, for the purpose of moving the matter gradually along the inner face of the cylinder, as set forth.

3. Atapering amalgamating-cylinder mounted to discharge at its smaller end, in combination with a suitable supporting-frame to incline it toward the discharge end, the bottom of the cylinder being inclined upwardly toward the discharge end to provide a trough, substantially as shown and described.

4. In an amalgamator, in combination with a suitable cage or frame and a feeding device, one or more tapering cylinders secured to and carried within said frame, having end receiving and discharging openings, formed to receive at the large end and discharge at the small end, the axis of the smaller or discharging end being lower than that of the larger or receiving end, while the lowest interior surface is at the larger or receiving end, as and for the purpose described and set forth.

5. In an amalgamator, a feeding device and two or more tapering cylinders, constructed with end receiving and discharging openings, in combination with an outer rotatable frame, the smaller or discharge end of one cylinder entering ashort distance into the larger or receiving end of the next, and the axis of the whole inclining downward toward the discharging end of the apparatus, while the lowest interior of each cylinder is at the receiving end, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an amalgamator, one or more tapering cylinders with receiving and discharging openings, its securing-frame-,and means for rotating the same, in combination with a stationary gatherer and polisher which traverses the inside of the cylinder or cylinders, as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. In an amalgamator, two or more tapering cylinders, A, with open ends, frame F, longitudinal supporting-strips B, rings C,

wheels E, secured to the frame F, and receiving the rings (3, railH, secured to the frame by connecting-arms I, and combined gatherer 

